According to the BBC, U.S. State department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland has commented negatively on the trip: "We don't think the timing of this is particularly helpful."

The State Department's attitude is understandable, given North Korea's recent missile launch.

Despite this, Schmidt's trip can't be written off so easily.

For one thing, it is extremely unlikely that Schmidt is in town to launch Google.kp, no matter how exciting that sounds.

Subsequent reporting from Lee has revealed that the trip will be a "private, humanitarian mission" and that Schmidt would be traveling with former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Korea expert Kun "Tony" Namkung.

The hope for North Koreans is that Schmidt can help push Kim in the direction of using technology in a way that is positive for his people.

As one South Korean Foreign Ministry official said in 2011 when North Korean experts reportedly visited Google in Mountain View, California, "Though it's unlikely that North Korea will open up to the outside world immediately, [showing North Koreans the level of U.S. technology and influence] could help shift the mindset of the regime over the long term."

There's also another interesting possibility — this may have nothing to do with the Internet and technology at all. Victor Cha, senior advisor and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, has put forward another idea in a primer on the situation: "The Schmidt-Richardson delegation might broach discussions for release of a Korean-American currently detained in North Korea."

That said, the criticism is easy to understand. Given that North Korea successfully launched a rocket last month — not only ignoring the international community but catching U.S. intelligence teams completely off guard — it's not surprising that the U.S. government isn't too pleased.